Evaluation of fetal protection against experimental infection with type 1 and type 2 bovine viral diarrhea virus after vaccination of the dam with a bivalent modified-live virus vaccine.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a modified-live virus (MLV) combination vaccine containing type 1 and type 2 bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in providing fetal protection against challenge with heterologous type 1 and type 2 BVDV.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 55 heifers.

The live attenuated bovine viral diarrhea virus components of a multi-valent vaccine confer protection against fetal infection.

Fetal infection with bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes severe economic loss and virus spread in cattle. This study investigated the ability of modified live BVDV I and II components of a commercially available modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (Breed-Back FP 10, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.) to prevent fetal infection and abortion, and therefore the birth of persistently infected animals.